J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by colinstone

I have a pair of X Wing 6 - orange/black for sale. Used for 2 weeks only this year - Saas Fee on glacier in Sep and Tignes Dec. Good condition, waxed a few times but no base grind. Returning to UK with them Fri 17 Dec and travelling Oxford to Paignton area of UK in Dec/Jan, so drop off/pick up may be possible.

Set up for size 25 boots with 297mm sole length. Binding/plate system allows adjustment for different boot size.

See Lockwoods for more details - www.lockwoods.com/salomon--x-wing-6--lz9/prod_2532.html.

And You Tube video reviews - www.youtube.com/results?search_query=salomon+x+wing+6&aq=f

Asking £140.

Any ?? please ask.

Colin Stone
07507 641375

No, go barging - http://www.luxe-motor-kei.co.uk/delivery/page/image18.html

Colin Stone

I've just been to Outdoor Traders, James Choularton, in Abingdon and bought Salomon CS Impact 8 ski boots. I had been Solutions 4 Feet, Colin Martin, in Bicester and tried Head boots, but they were a fraction too narrow and Colin did not have the Impact 8 in stock and not due until late Aug. I am amazed that there are a couple of proper boot fitters within a stone's throw of each other!!

My feet are UK size 8 with a low arch. Both James and Colin measure and assess the feet in much the same way, but James has a dynamic gait machine that is walked across and reveals extent of arch and pressure variation. Boots fitted with instaprint custom foot beds

Boots are size 25 with a "finger" width behind the heel in the bare shell, my previous boots bought secondhand a good few years ago in a bit of a rush were 27.5 and well padded out to reduce volume!! Fit is a "performance" fit and they are well snug and they match the advice at www.ski.com - http://www.skis.com/docs/ski-boots-buying-guide/#DeterminingProperFit
If was after a "comfort" fit, then about another cm behind the heel - or size 26.

OT also had the boots in their sale including fitting and foot beds were £95, so overall a really good deal for a 2 1/2 hour session.

Boots are not made in half sizes - a 25 and 25.5 is the same shell - in fact some shell components may be used on several shell sizes. I have seen cuffs labelled 22.5 to 24.5. A 25 size is achieved by having a thicker foam footbed in the 25.5 shell.

Colin Stone

steverandomno - The other ski I was looking at was the Crimson Ti at 169cm - ex demo at a good price? - less than 50% new. I'm 5ft8 and 72ish kg/160lb. 60/40 would be OK. Wondered if the C Ti would be too stiff/take too much effort. Only switched to modern skis this year, after Salomon Equipe PR8 narrow jobs, and had the lowly Salomon Xwing 6 for 11 days, which I thought was pretty good both on and off piste. No really deep powder, but seemed OK in crud as well. I'm quite happy cranking the pressure on the edges.
Too many choices!!!

Just spent an afternoon trying on skiboots (Solutions4Feet). Highly recommended were the Blackeye skis as a really good all mountain ski. Any thoughts out there?

Thanks - and I had been reading around various backcountry and ski touring books, PH and HAT and the 2008/9 FR avalanche review. The latter seems to indicate that having more not fewer in a group would be advantage - the average deaths per incident is 1.46. The reference books only seem to have the ladder search - hence my posting.

Howeever, my basic Q remains - how many in a group?

From the marine and diving perspectives, there are several search techniques that are employed to cope with the differing conditions - number of search units, visibility, search equipment etc etc. In many ways the diving enviroment is most similar to the alpine one - lack of air, lack of visibility, search numbers etc but I would not want to go all the way down the diving route with laying jackstays etc!!

Anyway, it all appears to be food for thought!!

All the books and references I have found seem to indicate that a primary search is carried out as a "ladder" search down the avalanche slide, starting above where the victim was last seen. What is not covered in much detail is numbers of skiers required for this search - is it just one??. Is there a case for using a "line abreast search" with a number of skiers spaced at 15m - 20m intervals, and 10m from avalanche edge, conducting a search side slipping down the avalanche slide path. In maritime search and underwater diver search scenarios, a line abreast search plan is the most efficient in terms of area covered and time taken. Ladder searches are used when there is a shortage of searchers, but it is very much second best.
So my question is how many skiers would make up a group that is small enough to get around reasonably quickly but large enough to provide sufficient search and management resources. It seems that it is desirable to have the group leader taking charge and then post 1 skier as a sentry/guard. To the guard I would also add comms - give him the mobiles to raise the external alarm, a PMR radio to remain in contact with the leader - he may have to climb to get a mobile signal, and mini flares (if available) to fire off at intervals. I would also have a prepared card in the country language that the comms number can read out if he is not too hot with the language - or if the telephone operator is not - much long the lines of the marine VHF Mayday card - what, where, when and details. And then the search team, how many? A search team of 4 could cover a search front of 65 - 80m wide. If the search front is wider, then perhaps a combination of line abreast and ladder. If 1 or 2 skiers were unfortunately carried away, then starting with a group of leader plus 6 or 7 would seem to offer a good capability in the worst case scenario. Any comments??

AllyG wrote:
I learned to windsurf a very long time ago, in 1977. And, in fact, I still have my board and sail from those days, a Sea Panther - I wonder if it's worth anything now as an antique?

Ally

I had a Sea Panther as well. Good deal on a military discount. Board went sometime ago, but I still have the original mast to fly flags from!!